The Keep Michigan Foundation received thirteen applications this year for the Shirley Richardson Mini-Grant Program.  Ten of these entries, listed below, will receive a grant of $750.00.

• Novi Parks & Recreation for part two of their Villa Barr Garden Restoration.  This will complete the restoration of two main gardens at Villa Barr Art Park, which hosts artists-in-residence and many visitors.  The gardens are considered “works of art” on the property and more than just complimentary to the sculptures.
• Discovery Elementary Young Fives – Learning Garden in Williamston.  The mini-grant will be used to help maintain and update the learning garden space, repair garden boxes, add children’s art work and a permanent sign.
• Detroit Hives for the Dresden Botanical Garden Project to create signage and establish a certified pollinator way-station.  In partnership with the Detroit Oudolf Garden, Wayne Metro and the Piston’s Foundation, a vacant lot in Detroit has been transformed into a botanical garden to support people and pollinators within the Osborn Community in Detroit.  This is the 18^th vacant lot to be transformed by Detroit Hives.
•  St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Meditation Trail in Beulah.  This is a half-mile trail that is designed as a place to rest, relax and meditate.  Church members work on the project and the grant will be used for the purchase of wildflowers and signage.
• Van Buren Conservation District State Trail Project in Paw Paw.  The grant will be used for creating and purchasing educational signage and equipment to do a clean-up event on the Van Buren State Trail.
•  Grosse Pointe Shores Beautification Committee for the maintenance and renovation of Osius Park Boardwalk Perennial Beds.  The Beautification Commission has maintained the beds as part of its annual Sponsor-a-Garden Project.  Six of the beds were destroyed by strong winds and waves that went over the break-wall in 2020 and 2021 and washed away most of the plants.  The city has repaired and strengthened the break wall and the Improvement Foundation repaired the boardwalk planking.  The Beautification Commission has re-designed the beds and grant funds will be used for replacement plants using native species.
•  Eastern Middle School in Ada for native garden restoration in a courtyard at the school.  They anticipate the help of 200 – 7^th graders.  Funds will be used for the cost of local experts, purchasing new equipment and native plants.
•  Careerline Tech Center in Holland, MI will utilize their grant for a habitat creation.  Seventh grade students in the Environmental Field Studies program have designed a native plant garden and outdoor classroom.  Funds would be used to purchase plants and transform a two-acre plot into a vibrant native plant garden using Doug Tallamy’s concept of a Homegrown National Park.  They are working in collaboration with John Ball Zoo.
•  The Grand River Trail Chapter of NSDAR will plant and maintain a pollinator garden at Bartlett Elementary in East Lansing to be used as an environmental teaching tool for students.  Many volunteers and students will be involved.
•  The Aboriculture Society of Michigan Foundation and Historical Society applied for funds to landscape the Historic Belle Isle Sawmill Restoration Project in Detroit.  Landscaping at the sawmill has been neglected for decades.  Funds will be used to begin site clean-up and to purchase initial plant material to enhance the front facade of the property.

Another Shirley Richardson mini-grant Program is planned for 2023-2024.  This program is jointly funded by the Keep Michigan Beautiful Foundation and Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc.

Information provided by Pat Deck, member of the KMB Foundation and KMB, Inc.